The Golf Capital of the World pokes it’s chest out a little bit further than usual this week as we celebrate the US Open with one of Myrtle Beach’s very own! Dustin Johnson captured his first Major Championship Victory yesterday by winning the 116th US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. The 31 year old PGA Tour veteran, an SC native who attended Coastal Carolina University and used to call Myrtle Beach home, held off some of the world’s best to achieve something that had alluded him on several instances in seasons past. Johnson, regarded by many as one of the most talented golfers on the planet, had been dealt heartbreak numerous times over the years upon the brink of a Major Victory – an improbable 3-putt on the final hole during the 2015 US Open thus gifting the victory to Jordan Spieth being the most recent of DJ’s near misses on golf’s biggest stage.
Superstitious or not, one cannot argue that the series of unfortunate events attempted to rear its ugly head once again in an attempt to deny Johnson another opportunity for Golf immortality. This year it came in the form of the USGA Rules Officials, as they confronted Johnson on the 12th hole about the possibility of a post-round penalty assessment involving a ruling that was made before his putt on the 5th green.
Reader ‘s Digest Version:
• Dustin’s ball moved on the 5th green before he addressed the ball to putt.
• Dustin, his playing partner Lee Westwood, and a Rules Official deemed that Dustin did not interfere with the ball and did not cause it to move – case closed.
• A USGA “committee” further reviewed the footage and felt like there was a “chance” that Dustin “could be” responsible for the movement of the ball.
• Officials told Dustin on the 12th tee that a 1-stroke penalty “could be” assessed after play.
Something as convoluted and confusing as this would have frazzled even the most mentally strong competitor, let alone Dustin Johnson, who has had his fair share of mental collapses on Sunday of a Major Championship. However, DJ brushed off the distraction admirably and soldiered on through the rest of his round. He left his best shot of the tournament for the final hole, where he stuck his second shot within 6 feet of the green, leaving a birdie chance and securing his first Major Championship. Johnson was indeed assessed a 1-stroke penalty after the round, but it was a moot point as he won the tournament by 3 strokes.
This victory propels DJ to the #3 golfer in the world, just behind Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. If there was any question that Johnson was a top player, all were answered this Sunday at Oakmont. On behalf of MB Golf, we congratulate you Dustin on a terrific tournament and your Major Victory!
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